SUPPLIER news

RYE, NY—Mitsubishi Imaging (MPM) announced the grand opening of its Mitsubishi Center for Education, a state-of-the-art demonstration print shop for use by dealers, printers and graphic arts professionals. Visitors to the center can experience the entire print process, including file production, proofing, platesetting and printing to a Hamada B452 Mark II press.

Sakurai USA Hosts Demonstration Day

SCHAUMBURG, IL—Sakurai USA recently hosted a Demonstration Day for more than 100 customers, dealers and guests at its North American headquarters. During the festivities, Sakurai dealer Independent Graphic Services, of Montgomery, AL, was presented a sales award for achieving the highest sales volume in 2006.

xpedx has entered into a global sales and service alliance with Paris-based Antalis, which distributes paper, packaging supplies and equipment in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. This now gives North American customers one point of access to products and services for their local and overseas operations. In other news, xpedx reports that it posted $1.2 billion in e-commerce sales in 2006, an increase of 35 percent over 2005, from 5.5 million orders.

Garry Curran is bringing his 30-plus years of graphic arts experience to MAN Roland, becoming a district sales manager in the Midwest. He replaces Paul Haass, who is retiring. Curran is responsible for providing MAN Roland pressroom technology and services to printers in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa.

As a result of integrating its North American web and sheetfed business units into one combined entity, KBA North America has announced several sales staff changes. Heinz Schmid assumes the position of senior vice president, web press sales. Gary Owen has been appointed vice president, sales and communications, newspapers. Bruce Richardson and Steve Brown have become sales managers, East and West, respectively. In other news, KBA has formed an exclusive distributorship with Vegra, enabling KBA to offer a new consumables line that includes fountain solutions, coatings, washes and varnishes.